Skirt collar support

ABSTRACT

A shirt collar support particularly adapted for use with buttondown type collars. The collar support includes a wing section extending outwardly from each end of a center section, a symmetry axis that extends through the center section dividing the collar support into mirror image right and left hand halves. Each wing section is folded in the same direction relative to the center section on a fold line disposed at an angle of about 45* relative to the symmetry axis. In use, the collar support&#39;&#39;s center section is wrapped around the front of the shirt&#39;&#39;s collar band, same being held positively in location by engaging the shirt&#39;&#39;s collar button with a collar button slot formed in the center section. The collar support is positioned relative to the shirt&#39;&#39;s collar band so that each of the wing sections extends outwardly from the shirt&#39;&#39;s collar band about the fold lines, thereby underlying the points of the shirt&#39;&#39;s collar and lifting the collar&#39;&#39;s points upwardly into collar configuration away from the body of the shirt.

United States Patent [191 Lojinger Jan. 22, 1974 SKIRT COLLAR SUPPORT[76] Inventor: Robert I. Lojinger, 6405 Shadyglen,

Cincinnati, Ohio 45243 [22] Filed: Feb. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 329,756

[52] US. Cl. 223/83 [51] Int. Cl. D06c 15/00 [58] Field of Search223/71, 83, 84

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,448,901 6/1969 Strasser etal. 223/83 Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, orFirm-James S. Hight et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A shirt collar support particularly adapted for use withbutton-down type collars. The collar support includes a wing sectionextending outwardly from each end of a center section, a symmetry axisthat extends through the center section dividing the collar support intomirror image right and left hand halves. Each wing section is folded inthe same direction relative to the center section on a fold linedisposed at an angle of about 45 relative to the symmetry axis. In use,the collar supports center section is wrapped around the front of theshirts collar band, same being held positively in location by engagingthe shirts collar button with a collar button slot formed in the centersection. The collar support is positioned relative to the shirts collarband so that each of the wing sections extends outwardly from the shirtscollar band about the fold lines, thereby underlying the points of theshirts collar and lifting the collars points upwardly into collarconfiguration away from the body of the shirt.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SKIRT COLLAR SUPPORT This invention relatesto collar supports. More particularly, this invention relates to acollar support particularly adapted for use with button-down typeshirts.

Collar supports are, of course, very well known to the art. Numerousdifferent collar support structures have been designed and used over theyears. Collar supports are used mainly by shirt manufacturers inmarketing of shirts to the retail trade. The objective of the shirtmanufacturer is to cause the collar band and collar of the shirt tostand upright relative to the shirts body while the shirt rests in itspackage prior to purchase by a consumer. Collar supports are used alsoby commercial laundries and the like to support a shirts collar inupright position relative to the shirts body after the shirt has beenlaundered. It is felt by both shirt manufacturers and commerciallaunderers that support of a shirts collar in this way makes the shirtmore attractive to the customer, and positively accentuates theworkmanship of the manufacturer in producing the shirt or of thelaunderer in washing the shirt.

However, shirts of the button-down collar type provide a unique problemto shirt manufacturers and commercial launderers. The points of abutton-down shirts collar are actually buttoned to the body of theshirt. In a button-down shirt each collar points size, relative to thelocation of the associated button on the shirts body, is fabricated soas to provide a slight roll or hump in the collar point when the shirtis worn by the user. Different style button-down shirts accentuate thisroll or hump more than others. Such is particularly accentuated inbutton-down shirts having collars of the socalled high roll and longpoint configurations.

It is particularly difficult for a button-down shirt manufacturer orlaunderer to maintain this roll or hump in the collar points when in ashirt package for, e.g., the high roll or long point type collarconfigurations. That is, the button-down collar tends to flatten downagainst the collar band and against the shirts body in an awkwardattitude that is quite different from the way that the collar appearswhen worn. This is unattractive to the manufacturer and launderer from amarketing standpoint because this awkward collar attitude isunattractive to the consumer. This for the reason that the button-downshirts collar is differently configured when in its package from thatwhich will occur when the shirt is worn by the user. Thus, it isdesirable to the shirt manufacturer and commercial launderer to maintainthe button-down shirts collar points in the roll or hump configuration,i.e., to maintain the shirt collar points lifted off the body portionand collar band of the shirt, when the shirt is packaged for delivery tothe consumer.

Hence, it has been the major objective of this invention to provide anovel shirt collar support particularly adapted for use with button-downshirts which maintains the shirt points off the shirts body, i.e., whichprovides means to positively lift the collars points off the shirts bodywhen the shirt is packaged for delivery.

In accordance with the objective of this invention, the shirt collarsupport of this invention includes a wing section extending outwardlyfrom each end of a center section, a symmetry axis that extends throughthe center section dividing the collar support into mirror image rightand left hand halves. Each wing section is folded a fold line disposedat an angle of about 45 relative to the symmetry axis. A tab is cut outof each wing section, each tab being fixed to the center section at thefold lines and remaining in the center sections plane when the wingsections are folded.

In use, the collar supports center section is wrapped around the frontof the shirts collar band, same being held positively in location byengaging the shirts collar button with a collar button slot formed inthe center section. The center section is held in the wrapped aroundposition by a strap surrounding the collar band beneath the collar(except where the collar support is located) and overlying the collarsupports tabs. The collar support is positioned relative to the shirtscollar band so that each of the wing sections extends outwardly from theshirts collar band about the fold lines, thereby underlying the pointsof the shirts collar and lifting the collars points upwardly into collarconfiguration away from the body of the shirt.

Other objectives and advantages of this invention will be more apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in conjunction Withthedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view illustrating the shirt collarsupport of this invention in operative engagement with a foldedbutton-down shirt;

FIG. 2 is a frontal perspective view of the shirt collar support of thisinvention illustrating the shirt collar support in the folded attitudeprior to operative engagement with the folded button-down shirt; and

FIG. 3 is a top view illustrating the shirt collar support of thisinvention in blank configuration prior to folding into that attitudeillustrated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the collar support of this invention isparticularly adapted for use in combination with a button-down typeshirt 10. The button-down shirt 10 is shown in folded configuration inFIG. 1, this folded configuration being that which the shirt takes whenpackaged for the consumer by a manufacturer or commercial launderer. Thebutton-down shirt 10 includes the usual body 11 portion, collar band 12,and collar 13. The shirts body portion 11 is disposed in a generallyplanar configuration when the shirt is folded, and the collar band 12 isdisposed in a generally upstanding attitude with the collar 13 flaringoutwardly therefrom. The collar 13 includes points 14 which terminate intips 15, the tips being fixed to the shirts body portion 11 by buttons16 attached to the body which cooperate with buttonholes 17 in thecollars tips in accord with normal practice. Also in the usual fashion,the collar band 12 is provided with a collar button 18 to maintain thecollar in buttoned relation to the users neck when the shirt 10 is worn.

The collar support 20 of this invention is illustrated in detail inFIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in those FIGS., the collar support 20 includes acenter section 21 and a wing section 22a, 22b extending outwardly fromeach end of the center section. A symmetry axis 23 extends through thecenter section, thereby dividing the collar support 20 into mirror imageright 24a and left 24b hand halves when the support is in blank form asshown in FIG. 3 as well as when the support is in preliminary foldedposition as shown in FIG. 2.

in the same direction relative to the center section on The centersection 21 is provided with a body edge 25 that is substantiallyperpendicularly disposed to the symmetry axis 23 and that extends toeither side of the symmetry axis. The bottom edge 25 is adapted to reston the shirts body 11 when the support 20 is operatively engaged withthe shirts collar 13. The center sections top edge 26 may be configuredas desired. The center section 20 terminates, at each side, in an outeror fold edge 27a, 27b angularly disposed relative to the symmetry axis23 at an angle a of about 45 and angularly disposed relative to thecenter section s body edge 25 at an angle a of about 45.

One of the wing sections 22a, 22b is foldably connected at respectivefold lines 27a, 27b to each side of the center section 21. Each wingsection 22a, 22b is of a generally triangular configuration, andincludes a body edge 28a, 28b that extends substantially transverse tooperative fold lines 27a, 271:. Each wing section 22a, 22b also includesa tip edge 29a, 29b that extends substantially transverse to thesymmetry axis 23. Each triangular wing section 22a, 22b, at itsoutermost point as defined by the intersection of body edge 28a, 28bwith tip edge 29a, 29b, respectively, is provided with a button notch30a, 30b. The button notches 30a, 30b are simply cut out of the pointsof the wing sections free corners and are particularly adapted tocooperate with the buttons 16 which button down the shirts collar 13 tothe shirts body portion 11 as is explained in detail below. The collarsupports triangular wing sections 22a, 22b are foldably related to thecollar supports center section 21 and function to support the shirtcollars points 14, i.e., to lift the collars points upwardly into collarconfiguration away from the body of the shirt, when the collar supportis operably engaged with the folded shirt 10.

A tab 31a, 31b is defined in each wing section 22a, 22b, respectively.Each tab 31a, 31b extends into its wing section 22a, 22b from, but isintegral with, the

center section 21. Each tab 31a, 31b is separable from each wing section22a, 22b by U-shaped cut lines 32a, 32b, respectively. Further, each tab31a, 31b extends outwardly into the adjacent wing section from the foldline 27a, 27b which separates the center section 21 from the associatedwing section 22a, 22b, thereby orienting the tabs in the wing sectionsin a substantially perpendicular manner relative to the fold lines thatseparate the wing sections and the center section. However, the tabs31a, 31b are not foldable relative to the center section 21 even thoughdefined in the wing sections 22a, 22b, note particularly FIGS. 2 and 3.The

supports center section 21 also includes a button slot 34 having anentry throat 35 that opens onto body edge 25 of the center section. Thebutton slot 34 is longitudinally aligned with the symmetry axis 23 ofthe collar support 20.

The collar support 20 of this invention may be made of paperboard or thelike, but it has been found desirable to make the collar support out ofa clear flexible plastic. A clear flexible plastic material is thoughtto provide a more desirable collar support 20 from the consumerstandpoint.

The collar support 20 of this invention is illustrated in foldedconfiguration, prior to being operationally engaged with a shirt, inFIG. 2. As shown in that FIG., the center section 21 of the collarsupport 20, as well as the two tabs 31a, 31b which extend outwardlytherefrom from fold lines 27a, 27b, respectively, are in one plane. Thetwo wing sections 22a, 22b are folded outwardly in the same directionrelative to the center section 21 about respective fold lines 27a, 27b.The fold angle of each wing section 22a, 22b in the secondary attitudeof the collar support (the primary attitude being the blankconfiguration shown in FIG. 3) relative to the center section 21 isabout or less. Thus, and as shown in FIG. 2, the collar support 20 is infolded attitude ready to be operationally engaged with a folded shirt10.

The final or operational attitude of the collar support 20 of thisinvention is illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in that FIG., the collarsupport is particularly adapted for use in connection with button-downtype shirts 10. The collar support 20 is held in correct functional andside-to-side relation with the collars band 12, and the collars points14, by slipping the supports center section 21 into place as shown withthe shirts collar button 18, the button 18 being finally positioned atthe top of the supports button slot 34. When so positioned, the supportscenter section 21 is then slightly curved to conform with the curvatureof the shirts neckband 12 so as to position the supports wing sections22a, 22b underneath the collars points 14, i.e., to position thesupports fold lines 27a, 27b underneath the collars points 14, wherethey are covered by the collars points. In this attitude, the supportswing sections 22a, 22b are disposed beneath the collars points 14, bodyedge 28a, 28b of each wing section resting on the shirts body portion 11and tip edge 29a, 29b of each wing section supporting and bearingagainst the collar s points from underneath, thereby positivelymaintaining the button-down collars points off the top surface of theshirts body portion 1 1. In this final operational attitude for thecollar support 20, the wing sections 22a, 22b themselves may have atendency to curve slightly relative to their usual planar attitude andmay have a tendency to return to a coplanar attitude with the centersection 20 about fold lines 27a, 27b. These tendencies are resisted bythe collar since the collars points 14 are actually buttoned to theshirts body portion 11 by buttons 16, but these tendencies also help tokeep the collars points lifted off the shirts body. Further, the buttonnotch 30a, 30b defined in the point of each wing section 22a, 22bprevents each wing section from moving toward the shirts symmetry axis36, i.e., prevents the supports wing sections from popping out frombeneath the collar 13, each notchs edges preventing such movement bycontact with the thread by which each button 16 is sewn to the shirtsbody portion 1 1.

Note particularly in FIG. 1 that tabs 31a, 31b of the collar support ofthis invention cooperate with a band 37 disposed or captured between theshirts collar 13 and the shirts neckband 12 in the usual fashion. Thissupport band 37 which surrounds the shirts neckband 12 and which may beof the usual paperboard, cooperates with the collar supports tabs 31a,31b to insure that the collar supports center section 21 is reasonablycurved into conformity with the curvature of the shirts neckband. Thiscurvature is maintained in the collar supports center section 21 bymeans of the band 37 overlying and cooperating with the tabs 31a, 31b,against the normal tendency of the center section to return to theplanar attitude illustrated in FIG. 2.

Having described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention,what I desire to claim and protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A shirt collar support particularly adapted for use with button-downcollars, said collar support including a single center sectionadjustable about a shirt collars band and sized to extend from one ofthe points of the shirts collar to the other across the collar button onthe shirt collars band,

a single wing section extending outwardly from each end of (a) saidcenter section, each wing section being foldable in the same directionrelative to said 5 center section on a fold line, said center sectionbeing positionable relative to the shirts collar band so that each ofsaid wing sections extends outwardly from the shirts collar band aboutsaid fold lines, thereby underlying the points of the shirts collar andlifting the collars points upwardly into collar configuration.

2. A shirt collar support as set forth in claim 1, said 3. A shirtcollar support as set forth in claim 2 wherein said center sectionfurther defines a collar button slot, said collar button slot beinglocated on the symmetry axis.

4. A shirt collar support as set forth in claim 2, said center sectiondefining a body edge substantially transverse to the symmetry axis, andeach of said wing sections defining a body edge disposed at an angle ofabout 45 relative to said center sections body edge when said sectionsare all coplanar.

5. A shirt collar support as set forth in claim 4, each of said wingsections defining a tip edge. said wing sections being positionablebeneath the collars points so said sections body edges rest on theshirts body portion and so said wing sections tip edges contact theunderside of the shirt collars points.

6. A shirt collar support as set forth in claim 1 includmg at least onetab extending from each fold line when said collar support is inoperational position with the shirts collar, said tabs being adapted tocooperate with a support band that surrounds the shirts neckband betweenthe shirts neckband and the shirts collar so as to maintain thecurvature of said center section in alignment with the curvature of theshirts collar band.

7. A shirt collar support as set forth in claim 6, said tabs being cutout of said wing sections.

1. A shirt collar support particularly adapted for use with button-downcollars, said collar support including a single center sectionadjustable about a shirt collar''s band and sized to extend from one ofthe points of the shirt''s collar to the other across the collar buttonon the shirt collar''s band, a single wing section extending outwardlyfrom each end of (a) said center section, each wing section beingfoldable in the same direction relative to said center section on a foldline, said center section being positionable relative to the shirt''scollar band so that each of said wing sections extends outwardly fromthe shirt''s collar band about said fold lines, thereby underlying thepoints of the shirt''s collar and lifting the collar''s points upwardlyinto collar configuration.
 2. A shirt collar support as set forth inclaim 1, said collar support being divided into mirror image right andleft hand halves by a symmetry axis, said fold lines being disposed atan angle of about 45* relative to the symmetry axis.
 3. A shirt collarsupport as set forth in claim 2 wherein said center section furtherdefines a collar button slot, said collar button slot being located onthe symmetry axis.
 4. A shirt collar support as set forth in claim 2,said center section defining a body edge substantially transverse to thesymmetry axis, and each of said wing sections defining a body edgedisposed at an angle of about 45* relative to said center section''sbody edge when said sections are all coplanar.
 5. A shirt collar supportas set forth in claim 4, each of said wing sections defining a tip edge,said wing sections being positionable beneath the collar''s points sosaid sections'' body edges rest on the shirt''s body portion and so saidwing sections'' tip edges contact the underside of the shirt collar''spoints.
 6. A shirt collar support as set forth in claim 1 including atleast one tab extending from each fold line when said collar support isin operational position with the shirt''s collar, said tabs beingadapted to cooperate with a support band that surrounds the shirt''sneckband between the shirt''s neckband and the shirt''s collar so as tomaintain the curvature of said center section in alignment with thecurvature of the shirt''s collar band.
 7. A shirt collar support as setforth in claim 6, said tabs being cut out of said wing sections.